Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1887-01-14
The Haunted Chamber.
BY 1.-THE DUCHESS"
CHAPTER Y.

on the distressed household, and still
there is no news of Sir Adrian.
Arthur Dyneeourt, who is already
beginning to be treated with due re-
spect as the next heir to the baronetcy,
has quietly limited to old Lady FltzAl-
mont that perhaps it will be as well, IN
the extraordinary circumstances, If
they all take their departure. This the
old lady though strongly dlSlncHned
to quit the castle, is debating in her
own mind, and, being swayed by Lady
Gertrude, who is secretly rather bored
by the dizziness that has ensued on the
strange absence of their host, decides
to leave on the morrow, to the great
distress of both Dora and Florence Del
maine. who shrink from deserving the
castle while its masters fate is undecl-
ded. But they are also sensible that,
to remain the only female guests,
would be To outrage the conyentlonall-
ties.
Henry Villiers, Ethel's father, is also
of opinion that they should all quit the
castle without delay. lie is Il hunting
man. an NJ. +. III. i'll his own county,
and is naturally anxious to get back to
his own quarters some time before the
hunting-SeasOn commences. Some 9TH
ers have already gone, and altogether
it seems to Florence that there IS no
other course open to her but to pack up
and desert him. whom she loves, in the
hour Of his drest need. For there are
moments even now when she tells her
self that he is still living, and only
waiting for saving hand to drag him
into smooth waters once again.
A silence has fallen upon the house
more melancholy than the loudest eX-
preston of grief, The servants are
conversng over their supper in fright
cned whispers, and cDnjectnring mood
lily as to the fate of their late master.
To them Sir Adrian is indeed dead, if
not buried.
In the servants corridor a strange
dull light is being flung upon the pol
ished boards by Il banging that is
burning dimly, rs though oppressed by
the dire evil Ahat has fallen upon the
old castle. No sound is to be heard
here in this spot, remote from the rest
of the house, where the servants sell
dom come except to go to bed, and
never indeed without an inward shud-
der as they pass the door that leads to
the haunted chamber.
Just now, being at their supper, there
is no fear that any Of them Will be
about, and so the dimly lighted CORR
dor Is wrapped III an unbroken silence.
Not quite unbTokcn, however. What
is this that strikes upon the ear? What
sound comes to break the unearthly
stiiInesS2 A creeping foOtstcp, eau
tlous tread, a sinking, halting, uncer-
tain motion, belonging surely to some
one who sees an enemy, Il spy i'll every
fitting shadow Nearer and nearer it
comes now into the fuller glare OF the
lamp-light. and stops short ut the door
an IrpatnI Nv tttn paGt "a
Looking uncasiIy around him, Ar
thur DynccOurt for it is he-lnfaSt-
ems the door, and, entering hastily, clio
SEES il firmly behind him, and aScendS
the staircase within There is no halt
ing in his footsteps now, no uncertain
ty, no caution, only Il haste that bctoli-
eng desire to get his crrand over as
quick a. possible.
Having gained the first landing, he
walks slowly and on tiptoe again, AND,
creeping mp the stone stairs, crouchCs
down 50 rs to bring his ear on Il level
with the lower Chink of the door.
Alas, all is still; no faintest groan
can be hcardl The silence of Death is
all around. In spite of his hardihood,
the cold sweat of fear breaks out upon
Dynccourt = brow; and yet he tells him
self that now he is satisfied, all is well,
his victim is secure. is beyond the pow
CT of words or kindly search to recall
him to life. He may be discovered now
rs soon as they like. Who can fix the
fact of his death upon him? There is
10 blow, no mark of violence to crimi-
nate any one. lie is safe, and al the
wealth he had SO coveted is at last his
own
There is something hendish in the
look Of eNuitation that lights Arthur
Dynecourt's face. lie has small dun
lantern with him, and now it reveals
the vile glance of triumph that fires his
eyes. He would tatn have entered TO
gaze upon his victim. to assure himself
of his victory, but ne rcfrains. a dead
ly fear that he may not yet be quite
dead keeps him back, and, with Il
frown, he prepares to descend once
more.
Again he listens, hut the sulIen roar
of the rising night wind is all that can
be heard. Ills hand shakes, his face
assumes liyid hue, yet he tells him
self that surely this deadly silence Is
better than he listened to last night.
Then 4 ghoStly moaning, almost inCeS-
SAINT and uncarthly in sound, had
pierced his brain. II was more like the
cry of dying brute than that of Il
man Sir Adrian slowly starved to
DEATH In his own mind Arthur can
see him now, worn, emaciated, lost to
all likeness of anything fair or Comclv.
Have the rats attacked him vet? As
this grewsomc thought presents itself,
lNureonrt rises quickly from his
SrouchinE position, and, flying down
the steps, does not stop running until
he arrives III the corridor below again.
lie dashes into this like one posses
sed; but finding himself in the light of
IN L..
a violent effort, and looks around.
Yes, all is still No living form but
his is near. The corridor, us he CLAN
Ces atfrightedly up and down, is empty.
He can see nothing but his own Shad-
ow, at sight OF which he starts and
turns pale and shudders.
The next moment he RECEIVERS HIM
self, and, muttering an anathema upon
his CoWardlce, he moves nOiScieSSly to-
ward his room and the hraudy-bottle
that has been his constant companion
of late
Yet, here in his own room. he can
not rest. The hours 60 by with laggard
steps. Midnight has struck, and still
he PAGES his floor from wall to wall,
half-maddened hy his thoughts. Not
that he relents. No feelings of repen-
tance stirs him, there is only nervous
NA'ttNA vi tAlt iti5A Nlltl IL VII bt lltC-
cessary to produce the dead body, if
only to prove his claim to the title SO
iearly and ST. UNANIMOUSLY purchased.
Is he indeed dead-gone past recallp
Is this house, this place, the old title,
the chance of winning the woman he
would have, all his own? Is his hateful
riyai-hatetul to him only because of
his fair face and genial manners and
lovahle disposition, and the esteem
with which he filled the hearts of all
who knew him-actually swept out of
his path?
Again the lurking morbid longing to
view the body with his own eyes, the
longing that had been his some hours
ago when listening mt the fatal door,
Seizes hold of him, and grows in inten-
slty with every passing moment.
AT last 1t Conquers him. Lighting
candle. he opens his door and peers
out. No one is aStir. In all probabili-
ty every one is ahed, and now sleeping
the sleep of the juSt-all except him.
WIZ there ever be any rest or dream
less sleep for him agaiuy
lie goes softly downstairs, and
makes his way to the lower door.
Meeting no one, he aScends the stairs
like one only half conscious. until he
finds himself again before the door of
the haunted chamber.
Then he wakes into sudden life. An
awful terror takes possession of him.
lie struggles with himself, and pres
emily SO far succeeds in regaining some
degree OF compoSure that he can lean
against the wall and wine his fnrebaad